Tampa Bay (61-44), which led the American League East by as many
as five games earlier this month, has averaged 2.7 runs in its
last 18 games, batting just .213 as a team over that time.

That meager production has greatly contributed to the Rays'
diminishing division lead, down to one game over the Boston Red
Sox (61-46), who also lost on Monday to Anaheim.

"We always try to play hard," Tampa Bay left fielder Carl
Crawford said. "(We've) just got to execute. Once we do that
better, I think our chances will be better. We're just
struggling to get the offense going."

The struggling offense didn't figure to get healthy against
Burnett (12-9), who general manager J.P. Ricciardi emphatically
stated earlier Monday would not be leaving Toronto after his
name had surfaced as a possible hired-gun for a contending team
over the final two months of the season.

Burnett, the American League leader in strikeouts, hours later
responded almost as forcefully as Ricciardi, striking out the
side in the first, fanning 10 and outdueling Rays starter James
Shields (9-7) to collect his fourth win over his last five
outings.

"It's a healthy run," Burnett said. "That's all I can look at
right now. I'm trying to go start-by-start right now and (I'm)
feeling good. I'm trying to pound the strike zone as best I
(can)."

The righthander, who has yielded a total of four earned runs
over his last four outings after surrendering 13 earned runs
over two starts from July 4-9, allowed an unearned run and six
hits with four walks to match his career-high win total, set
twice while with the Florida Marlins in 2002 and 2005.

Trailing, 1-0, in the fifth, Toronto finally mounted some
offense off Shields, who had yielded just one hit up to that
point.

Rod Barajas led off the inning with a single, only to score on
the next pitch when Stairs drove a high sinker from Shields off
the first-deck facade in center field for his 11th home run of
the season. Joe Inglett followed Brad Wilkerson's triple with
one of his own in the eighth to double the lead to 3-1.

"He's one of the toughest pitchers in the league," Stairs said.
"The whole pitching staff over there is outstanding. ... I was
very fortunate to 'barrel' (hit) it out of the ballpark and get
a 2-1 lead."

Shields yielded three runs and five hits with five strikeouts
over 7 1/3 innings, taking just his second loss over his last
seven decisions.

"I felt I pitched really well," Shields said. "I think if I
pitch well like the rest of the season, we are going to win
games."